As residents of Upper Arlington adorn their homes with ghouls and witches in preparation for Beggar’s Night, safety takes center stage with the return of the city's Pumpkin Patrol initiative. The program, designed to keep trick-or-treaters safe during the Halloween festivities, involves marked city vehicles patrolling the neighborhood during the event’s scheduled hours of 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, as reported by the City of Upper Arlington’s official website.
The safety patrol this year will be on the lookout for lost, scared, or injured children, ready to lend assistance or call for police support if necessary—each truck comes with a two-way radio on board. The Pumpkin Patrol is a community favorite, bringing peace of mind to both parents and children.
For kids eager to hit the streets in costume, the City of Upper Arlington's website offers these pointers. Map out a trick-or-treat route and share it with your parents; ensure your costume allows for clear vision to avoid any mishaps, stick with your group, stay away from stranger’s homes, look both ways before crossing the street, making use of crosswalks; avoid visiting homes without a porch light on, and importantly, hold off on indulging in your candy haul until it gets the parental once-over.
Parents, meanwhile, are encouraged to get into the spirit by either accompanying their children or, at the very least, making sure they're clued up on the safety rules. Costumes should be safe—non-flammable and non-vision impairing. "Check your children’s Halloween candy before they eat any to avoid any allergic reactions as well as to remove anything that appears unsafe," advises the City of Upper Arlington site. In the event of discovering anything suspicious, parents are urged to contact the local Police directly. Above all, the messaging concludes, the goal is to savor the festivities and, of course, the candy.
With the night's precautions firmly in place, Upper Arlington’s trick-or-treaters can look forward to a frightfully fun evening, shored up by a community that clearly prioritizes their safety and enjoyment. The Pumpkin Patrol stands as one more reason why Halloween in UA is a highly anticipated affair.
